GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is warming up to join the 2015 presidential race.

He is expected to slug it out with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), and Governor Rochas Okorocha (Imo) as well as former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gen. Buhari and Senator Bukola Saraki, are yet to officially declare their interest in the contest.

More members of the party may show interest in due course, according to party sources.

Governor Oshiomhole, it was gathered, has already completed consultations at home and abroad on his aspiration.

He was in the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA) recently as part of the consultations.

He is said to have received encouragement to join the race from friends, including foreigners who have followed his switch from labour to politics and governance.

His backers are convinced that Oshiomhole stands a good chance of making it to Aso Rock Villa since the PDP has conceded its own ticket slot to President Goodluck Jonathan from the Southsouth.

They are of the view that the choice of Oshiomhole might serve as a counter-balancing force to Jonathan in the zone should the APC concede the slot to the Southsouth.

But there is a snag: the recent election of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun from the same zone as the party’s National Chairman.

A source familiar with the development said Oshiomhole has been “looking at the larger picture and not geopolitical calculation.”

“The comrade governor, is considering the need for a leader to salvage the nation rather than any other calculation,” the source said.

“This is why he has been meeting with leaders at home and abroad on his aspiration and how to rescue the nation. He has concluded consultations and he is of the strong opinion that he should vie for the office.

“The governor is interested in the presidential race. He will make his intention known soon. As a former labour leader, he believes he has a bigger constituency to lead the APC to victory in 2015 if he gets the ticket.

“The governor will make a declaration as soon as the APC releases the guidelines in line with INEC’s timetable.”

The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Prince Kassim Afegbua, confirmed the interest of his boss in the Presidency.

He said: “This has always been our interest because some of us would not want the Comrade Governor to squander his enormous political capital across the country without giving a shot at the highest office in the land. He has tremendous courage, brilliance and capacity to contend with developmental issues in the country; ingredients that are presently needed to provide problem-solving leadership at the center.

“Give it to this great former Labour leader that he is one Nigerian who believes so much in the unity of the country and is ready to go to any length to preserve that unity.

“Nigerians need a leader like Comrade Oshiomhole at this time to galvanize all the centrifugal and centripetal forces into a national aspiration to lift the country from its present prostrate state to some kind of Olympian height in a clear headed attempt to earn our cherished position amongst nations of the world.”

He added, “He will wait for the party to blow the whistle but he will test his presidential participation through the primaries. It will be our hope that the members of the APC consider him worthy of this noble cause in the build-up to the 2015 elections. To answer your question, yes, he will contest.”

This is a goose dream, this is way to waste poor Edo state funds you have been stockpiling since your second term. Finish your last term well and prepare for senate in 2019.

Owo

This is the best news of the day. With the comrade governor as presidential candidate the victory is very sure. It will satisfy the desire of the south south who feels that another 4 years be given to the zone to provide leadership for the country. GEJ has wasted 4 years and south south will be very glad to have a more competent, selfless, service oriented and credible person as Oshiomole to lead the country out of the pit into which GEJ has driven our nation. All well,meaning Nigerians should support this move as we must deliver our nation from wicked people whose only achievement is stealing of our resources. May their days come to an end, and may God deal with them the way they have been dealing with Nigeria and Nigerians.

Tugbi

Am happy men of Honour are coming out for APC presidential race. Oshiomole has a National backing. I will support him.

Fazona

The poor widow knelt before the imperial governor, Oshiomole, a former labor leader, begging for her little means of livelihood to be saved. She pleaded that she’s a widow. But her pleas fell on the governor’s deaf ears. In what could be regarded as cold-blooded callousness, the governor said the widowed woman should “go and die”.

So, now you want to elevate your cold-blooded callousness from Edo State to the central level covering the whole country. What a sick country called Nigeria where any and any imbecile can aspire to be the President of the fraud called Nigeria.

When will this horror movie called Nigeria end?

Kunta

Wow! I am glad with this development and pray it works out well for the great man (Oshiomole). I am fanatic fan of Buhari, a charismatic honest leader, but truth be told no northerner can win this underperforming Jonathan that is still parading a killer (Aba Moro) as federal minister in 2015 election. A figure like Adams Aliu Oshiomole is the best card APC can play to bring back Jonathan to his Otuoke country home in 2015. Oshiomole is a man that can win a Yoruba man in the southwest talk less of unpopular Jonathan. APC should kindly ignore the ridiculous thinking that Oyegun is from South-South, all we want is good governance and it doesn’t matter wether Oyegun and Oshiomole are from the same mother or not. Oshiomole is a perfect substitute for Buhari, APC should just plead with Buhari to nominate kakwanzo or Tambuwal for VP. Buhari is still a major factor for wining in the north.

Romla

Any part of the country can produce the President in 2015,even the SS.What we want is a person that can move the country forward.Oshiomole is one of those people.If he emerges from the APC primaries and the North backs him change from the current 16 years of low performance will end.The SW will support him because the SW appreciates competence and merit.He has good support in the SS.

Joel Akhator Odigie

Indeed, great news and I have no doubt Comrade Adams has all it takes to lead Nigeria. Importantly, am happy to read the few comments here so far, which suggest that Nigerians want to see capable hands and persons with immense courage and knowledge to take decisions and lead Nigeria forward. For those who will want to attract attention (I read someone still referring an error of the Comrade Governor, which he has since accepted and corrected as a failure for forgetting the said widow is now one of the Governor’s champion for change). Again, I warmly welcome this news. Forward with Nigeria!